Sliver guide for a textile machine
This invention relates to a sliver guide for a textile machine. More particularly, this invention relates to a sliver guide for a guide table of a combing machine. 
     As is known, conventional combing machines have a row of combing heads from each of which a combed sliver emerges onto a common delivery table. In addition, the combed slivers are individually taken around a sliver guide on the delivery table and then passed jointly to a drawframe. Currently, conventional sliver guides are simple, for example, cylindrical studs, which are usually fixed in an adjustable manner on the delivery table, for example, by means of an eccentric screw parallel to the axis of the stud. However, one disadvantage of the known sliver guide is that individual fibers of the combed slivers may jam and catch in a corner between a peripheral surface of the stud and the surface of the delivery table. Further fibers may then become deposited so that a tuft forms which is finally entrained by the moving combed sliver. This, in turn, may result in a malfunction, for example, stoppage of the drawframe and the entire machine. Another disadvantage is that the combed sliver ultimately deposits dirt and the like on the sliver guide, for example, honeydew, resin, husk parts, dressing and the like. Unless such impurities are removed at short intervals of time, the impurities increase the frictional force on the sliver passing about the guide with the result that the sliver can become torn. In addition, there is a possible impairment in the quality, that is, uniformity, of the sliver. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to preclude jamming and catching of a sliver about a sliver guide in a textile machine. 
     It is another object of the invention to avoid the depositing of dirt on a sliver guide during movement of a sliver thereover. 
     It is another object of the invention to avoid impairment of a sliver guided over a feed table of a textile machine. 
     Briefly, the invention provides a sliver guide for a textile machine in which the guide is comprised of an inner member and a sleeve rotatably mounted on and about the inner element on a common axis. In addition, the sleeve has a radially outwardly projecting flange at one end to support a sliver thereon. 
     The sliver guide is particularly useful in a textile machine having a table over which a plurality of slivers are directed, for example, from a plurality of combing machines to a drawframe. In this case, each guide has an inner element fixably mounted on the table while the sleeve is rotatably mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the table in order to receive and deflect a sliver passing thereover from one direction to another direction. The outwardly projecting flange of each sleeve is also disposed adjacent a surface of the table. 
     The sliver guide permits the combed sliver to run around the sleeve while being supported by the flange on the sleeve so that individual sliver fibers cannot jam between the sliver guide and the delivery table surface. In this respect, the moving combed sliver is to entrain and rotate the sleeve so that no sliding friction occurs between the sliver and the sleeve. This substantially eliminates a risk of the combed sliver depositing dirt and the like on the sleeve. Also, the sleeve can, without difficulty, be made of plastics since there is no risk of static charging of the combed sliver. Likewise, the inner element of the guide may be made of plastics. 
     Should any individual fibers catch on the sleeve, these slivers can readily detach from the rotating sleeve before any tuft forms. 
    
    
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a diagramatic plan view of a combing machine employing sliver guides in accordance with the invention; and 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a vertical sectional view of a sliver guide constructed in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     Referring to FIG. 1, the textile machine is in the form of a combing machine having a row of combing heads 1 each of which delivers a combed sliver 2 onto a common delivery table 3. The table 3 is provided with a plurality of sliver guides 4 each of which is associated with a respective head 1 to receive and deflect the associated combed sliver 2 from one direction into a longitudinal direction of the delivery table 3. As indicated, the deflected, combed slivers 2 run jointly to a drawframe 5 accommodated in a suitable housing. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, each sliver guide 4 is comprised of a preferably plastic sleeve 11 having a cylindrical peripheral wall as well as an inner element 12 about which the sleeve 11 is rotatably mounted on a common axis. The inner element 12 is in the form of a cylindrical hollow stud which may be made of plastic. As indicated, the inner element 12 is fixed on the delivery table 3 by means of a screw 13 which is threaded into a tapped bore or sleeve 14 in the inner element 12. This tapped bore or tapped sleeve 14 extends parallel to and eccentric to the central axis of the inner element 12 for receiving a fixing screw 13 in order to secure the inner element 12 to the table 3. Thus, before the screw 13 is tightened, the inner element 12 together with the sleeve 11 can be laterally displaced relative to table 3, for example, by pivoting around the axis of the screw 13 in order to adjust the length of travel or the distance between the sliver guide 4 and the edge of the table 3 for purposes of reliable sliver transport. 
     The sleeve 11 is formed with a radially outwardly projecting flange 15 at the lower end, as viewed, of the peripheral wall adjacent to the surface of the table 3 in order to support a sliver 2 thereof. In addition, the flange 15 has a width which is substantially identical to the diameter of the combed sliver, that is, the outside diameter of the flange 15 may be of from 15 to 30 millimeters larger than the outside diameter of the sleeve 11. The outer surface of the peripheral wall of the sleeve merges via a curvature 16 into the flange 15 on a radius r (in axial section) of about 2 to 8 millimeters. This provides a non-damaging deflection of the combed sliver and a good rotory drive of the sleeve 11 by the moving combed sliver. 
     The sleeve 11 should be rotatable as easily as possible on the inner element. To this end, the bottom surface of the flange 15 is spaced by a small amount d of about one millimeter from the surface of the delivery table 3. The sleeve 11 also bears on the top end face of the inner element 12 by means of a partition 17 which extends across the inner element 12 As indicated, this partition 12 closes off the sleeve 11 so as to prevent any penetration of dust or fiber fly from above between the wall of the sleeve 11 and the inner element 12 The bottom surface of the partition 17 has a projection 18 in the middle zone so as to bear on the top end face of the inner element 12 only in a middle zone. Of course, the same effect could be obtained with a flat bottom surface of the partition 17 and a projection on the middle zone of the top end face of the inner element 12. 
     The outside of the peripheral wall of the inner element 12 is spaced from the inside of the wall of the sleeve 11 by a small radial clearance of, for example, up to one millimeter and preferably 0.2 to 0.5 millimeters. 
     If desired, the sleeve 11 may be mounted by means of a ball bearing (not shown) on the inner element 12 As a rule, however, the plain bearing described provides adequate ease of rotation of the sleeve 11. 
     Alternatively, for the adjustable mounting of the inner element 12 on the delivery table 3, the tapped bore 14 maybe replaced by an eccentric bolt extending through a bore in the delivery table 3. Other possibilities may also be used for adjustable fixing of the inner element 
     The sliver guides are particularly useful for guiding combed sliver from combing heads to a drawframe. Also, the sliver guides may be used on other textile machines where a sliver must be guided, for example, by a feed table of a drawframe. 
     The invention thus provides a sliver guide of relatively simple construction which avoids the depositing of dirt or the like on the guide and which also avoids static charging by a combed sliver passing thereover. Further, the provision of a flange on the rotatable sleeve prevents individual fibers of the combed sliver from jamming between the periphery of the guide and the surface of the delivery table.